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Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Good afternoon all, oh my goodness it is so windy today....I do hope it gets a bit better before tonight....I don't know about you but I hardly slept last night...it was so noisy...

Today I thought I would share a special Birthday card that I made a few weeks ago...you see it was Barbara Gray's Birthday...no pressure....hey...what do you make for such a clever and talented lady...

Well I went for a Clarity Stencil, some Clarity stamps and a bit of a Jo twist...I am sure Barbara won't mind me sharing it with you...

I started with a piece of Gelli card, and I stamped the large Finch onto it...then I took a deep breath and drew the clockwork key......the area was then painted with some drawing gum...now I know we have a mask for the finch but I still needed to mask the key...so this time I used the gum....

Next came the clockwork Stencil and some Distress inks with mini blending tools...

When the stencil was removed , it just needed some depth ....some shade...so out came those favourite charcoal pencils...

I like to lean on a piece of kitchen paper...then I don't spoil my work...

Next I added some Sail Boat Blue ink around the edge of the card with a Stencil Brush...

On a separate piece of card I used the Letterbox kit and stamped the letters...Ready to cut out...

The gum just rubs away , nice and easy...so then I added some colour using Spectrum Noir Pencils...Then some white highlights...

Some matting and layering, and then the letters were added...

I also used the stencil inside the card....I do like to make the inside match....

So there we have it....I do hope you like this...

I did take a deep breath before drawing the key but I totally blame our latest team member Karen Hayselden for giving me the confidence to do it....so a big Thanks Karen....xxx

It is good to try new things....and Karen has made me look at my stamps in a new light....but don't worry...a small key is the extent of my drawing capabilities!!!!!

Thanks for sharing a few minutes with me today...take care and stay safe...

Sunday, 29 March 2015

Good afternoon lovely readers, hope today finds you well. It has been raining all morning here in Cheshie...and the dogs had a very muddy walk this morning...good job we had the hose ready for an outdoor shower when we got back...

Yesterday was a wet day in the Lake District too...Eric came to Clarity Cumbria for a short visit...he does love to meet the ladies...oh and gent ....

Our main project was a canvas...using a stencil and a canvas board from Clarity...

..we started by using Grunge Paste through the stencil. When dry we used Black Gesso...then some gilding wax...

Then added some colour using Alcohol inks, and / or Alcohol pens..The white highlights were achieved by scratching the work back using a craft knife...

Here are the finished projects..They are amazing ...I am so proud of the crafters...

Whilst we were waiting for various bits to dry...we made a couple of cards...using the stencils...

This is one of my favourite techniques....extending the picture...And I do love to outline the work in black ...

Look at theses beauties...

Remember that just because the stencils are 7x7 you don't always have to make large square cards...so for our next one,,.we used DL card blanks..

Lovely..And perfect for spring...

We also did some distress ink work on mount board...now the ink seems to blend better if you rub a small amount of Glycerine on it first..

It was lovely to catch up with everyone yesterday...and thanks Freda and Barbara for my lovely present from Australia..

Also I was really spoilt when Julie gave me this fantastic piece of art work...it is hanging in my craft room...thank you so much...I love it...

Did you remember to put your clocks on an hour...? We did...but I must admit Eric still woke up early ...so I am feeling a little tired now...

May be I will just make a brew and sit down for 10 minutes....and just relax...

Thursday, 26 March 2015

How is your week going? It is all go here....mind you that is usual....

We had Mikeys Birthday yesterday...I can't believe he is 24....it only seems yesterday that he was born...

One of his friends is leaving work...she is very talented and is pursuing her arty career so he needed a quick card...this is what I came up with...,,I thought butterflies were a good choice as they represent not only Craft but change as well...

I do like to decorate the envelope to match...

Yesterday was also workshop day in Hazel Grove...we used the wonderful Finches stamp set from Clarity...

We used the Matrix Feather stamp and white embossing powder to make a resist background...

I do love these finches...

We had quite a discussion about colours...and we decided in the end that artistic licence ...the Finch can be any colour we want to colour him in...why him...I'm not sure...he just looks male.....or is that just me????

For our second card we used Distress ink to stamp with and then did some water colouring...

I like to leave the cards without a specific sentiment and then the crafters can choose their own depending on how they want to use the cards..

It was one of the ladies Birthdays too..and Rachel brought cakes...thanks Rachel..

Today I have been trying to tackle the mountain that is the ironing basket!!!! Plus making samples for the next Clarity show...it will soon be here...

More ..must have stamps....perfect for An Easter present and less calories than an Egg....

Must go now and make some food...Karl is on his way home from London...he will be in about 7-30... So better get something in the oven...

Sunday, 22 March 2015

Good afternoon all, and welcome to another new follower....thank you so much for joining us, I do hope you like it here...

I love to share my crafty life (oh and dogs!!!) with you and I am happy to answer any questions and help you if I can....I love to meet fellow crafters and I thoroughly enjoy the many workshops that I run...

Today I thought I would share with you a canvas that I made for the last Clarity show on C&C...

Sorry about the reflection at the top of the photograph, I really must get to grips with some photography techniques...also the canvas would look even better mounted onto a larger white canvas but I didn't have one when I took this picture......( I have rectified that now )

A full range of canvases are available from Clarity....I startedby using the Stencil and dragging some Grunge Paste through...

As soon as this dried It reminded me off a dry stone wall....now I am very familiar with Dry stone walls and my sister and husband have many around their lake district home and Graham has tried to teach dry stone wall building to Karl and me....( we did try...that is all I am going to say!!!!!)

Next came some colour around the edges...I used Distress Ink..

Then it was time for some Black Gesso...

After the gesso , I used my finger and added some gold gilding wax....I do love the smell of this....

When dry I added colour using some bottled Alcohol Inks on a piece of felt...

To add highlights I scratched the White areas using a craft knife...

I then stamped the Bird Row stamp onto card, coloured them in using Spectrum Noir pencils and cut them out individually..

I really do love these little birds...

I think they look right at home on my dry stone wall...

I was out in the garden earlier today and some of the birds were collecting twigs to build their nests....

I also found some of my favourite flowers have popped their heads up above the soil....I love Fritillarias....

If you done have any of these in your garden ...I urge you to get some....they are so delicate....but come up year after year....

Now ....couldn't you just see the Wee Folk Fairies loving these little flowers...

Friday, 20 March 2015

Good morning....welcome to Friday....welcome to our new follower......( oh my....I am going to have to get some Candi ready to give away when we reach 200 followers.....not long now...) and welcome to a new Challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Blog...

Our new theme is Girly....and is hosted by the lovely and very talented Celine...

This month we are sponsored by Sweet Lilac Flowers and Fresh Brewed Designs...

Here is my DT inspiration and I have used Hazel Blowing Bubbles # 2027 from Fresh Brewed Designs...and I knew as soon as I saw it that it would compliment my Clarity bubbles stencil, stamp....and I even had a Clarity sentiment in mind too..

I started with a piece of Gelli card, Jo's Bubbles stencil , Raspberry Adirondack ink and a stencil brush...

I then changed the position of the stencil and changed the ink to Purple Twilight...

I stamped the sentiment and added some stencilled colour too.

Next came the bubbles stamp from Clarity...everyone needs this stamp...

A little tip if you add some black dots with your fine liner pen the bubbles look more realistic...

Next I added some colour to Hazel....with my Spectrum Noir pencils...

Then assembled my card, adding some gorgeous flowers from Sweet Lilac flowers....oh the leaves are from S.L. Too...

As this is a Girly card I had to use a ribbon bow and a dazzler....

Glossy Accents just finished the bubbles perfectly....another crafters must have...

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Copyright Notice

Please feel free to take inspiration from my projects, but spare a thought for the hours of work that have gone into them and please don't copy or upload any of my work claiming it as your own. Plus please remember that it is polite to give credit where it is due and mention where your inspiration has come from!

Many thanks, Jo x

About Me

I have been crafting for many years with my main interest being card making and pyrography. I am a freelance designer and crafter who runs regular workshops and love to share ideas with fellow crafters. I am 52 years old, married and we have 2 grown up sons. My crafty companions are a 6 year old yellow labrador named Tess and Eric who is a Black Labrador and he is 10 months old...